Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 17 Swallowed Up October 21, 2025 - What do you think of when you see the phrase "swallowed up"? My mind tends to go to the Bible story of Jonah and the three days he spent in the belly of whale. But that's probably not going to be a reality for any of us. What then could it mean for you and me in our daily lives? Being "swallowed up" in this sense more than likely refers to being overwhelmed by responsibilities, tasks, unresolved conflict, or uncertainty....
11 days ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 16 A Chair of Charity October 14, 2025 - As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to "mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort." While this may feel like a simple instruction, some times we just don't know what to say. Here are a few thoughts that might help. While you may feel uncomfortable approaching someone in mourning, the worst thing to do is to do nothing. See past your discomfort to reach out to comfort them. If...
18 days ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No.5 1 Talking Trees October 7, 2025 - Have you ever heard of the "Wood Wide Web"? No, that's not a typo. This phrase refers to an underground root system that allows trees to share resources and communicate with each other. They should have added another "w" word - "Wow!" - in that reference because that's exactly what I thought when I first heard of this concept. If trees can share resources and communicate either above ground (as this week's video...
25 days ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 14 The Nature of Grief September 30, 2025 - Grief feels like a constant companion lately. From a public assassination to the loss of our dear Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson to a shocking attack on one of our meetinghouses just two days ago. Yet, if you were to describe what grief looks like or how long it lasts, how would you respond? Without question, every response would be unique to each person's experience. Then how can we address our own grief...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 13 What's Your Legacy? September 23, 2025 - With recent events, many of us have heard about the legacy Charlie Kirk wanted to leave - that he would be remembered for having courage to live his faith. And I would agree - that our legacy should be something that will motivate and inspire others. But as I learned recently, a legacy can also be a lot of fun and something to make others smile. When Kay Andrew pondered this question, she knew the answer...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 12 Blessings of Diversity September 16, 2025 - I want to let you in on a not-so-little secret. My third book, "Embracing God's Timing: The Best is Yet to Come," comes out on Amazon in two days, on Thursday, September 18 at 6pm! Click below to pre-order the Kindle version, or save the link for Thursday. "Embracing God's Timing: The Best is Yet to Come" [Note: This newsletter and accompanying video were scheduled weeks ago. As many of us are still reeling...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 11 What If? September 9, 2025 - I have a lot on my mind this week. Thoughts of "What if?" What if my life was different? What if I made choices that altered my daily routine? What if, and this is the big "if" this week, today was my last day on earth? These thoughts come because of the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 - 24 years ago this week. For anyone old enough to remember, you know exactly where you were when you first heard...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 10 Talking with a Taphophile September 2, 2025 - Now that we've scaled the Timpanogos Cave Trail, it's on to a new series. With this change, you can now access a free sample of my second book, "Stones to Shine in Darkness: Seeking the Light of Christ in Our Lives." Click below! Now, where were we? Oh yes! Do you have an odd hobby or strange fascination that most people wouldn't understand? Well, I do. As the title of this newsletter suggests, I am a...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 9 Reaching the Summit August 26, 2025 - Before I share the end of the story, I want to let you know that over the next several days, I will be posting numerous Bonus videos from my hike that didn't make it into the newsletters. Click below to see more lessons from the Timpanogos Cave Trail. Bonus Videos Let's get back to the hike. After pressing forward, in spite of fatigue, sore feet, and thousands of steps (11,198 to be exact!) I made it to the top,...
2 months ago • 1 min read